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electronic cigarette

A question that most smokers who are considering quitting smoking ask is “What is the best method to stop smoking?” There are millions of people who want to stop smoking. The health problems that smoking can cause are well known, but people are not able to quit because of the highly addictive nature of nicotine, which is in tobacco. Common quit smoking aids which replace the nicotine without smoking, include gum, lozenges, and patches. These aids which are referred to as ” Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products” do help satisfy the craving for nicotine.

The problem for many is, the habit of smoking is an overall “experience”. It’s not only the nicotine. Smokers also like the sensation of raising a cigarette to their mouth and inhaling and exhaling the smoke. The act of smoking gets linked to a pleasurable experience like having a smoke with a good cup of coffee, or after a good meal. The “experience” along with the nicotine, make cigarette smoking an extremely difficult habit to break.

There is a fairly new product on the market that is gaining in popularity. It’s called an electronic cigarette and I think it makes a lot of sense as a method to stop smoking. The electronic cigarette is a battery operated cigarette that gives smokers the feeling of smoking a regular cigarette without all the harmful toxins. The electronic cigarette looks and feels very similar to a regular cigarette. It has a chamber that turns pure liquid nicotine into a puff of vapor giving the sense of smoking a regular cigarette, without all the chemicals that are present in regular cigarette smoke. Smokers get the nicotine and the smoking “experience” without all the health risks of cigarette smoking.

Electronic Cigarettes contain nicotine cartridges which are interchangeable and available in different strengths. This allows a person to gradually reduce the amount of nicotine they consume by switching to cartridges with less nicotine content. The cost of electronic cigarettes is much less than regular tobacco products.

Although electronic cigarettes are much healthier than tobacco, nicotine is very addictive. If you’re not a smoker, I definitely would not start. If you’re an adult who already smokes and you’re looking for a way to reduce the amount, or quit, I would recommend looking into e- cigarettes.

We want to easily quit smoking cigarettes. That is what we want to do. Isn’t it?

The truth is that there are certain things that we must not do if we want to find it less difficult to abandon smoking completely. It is very important that we take note of these things. Once we get them out of the way, our minds will be clear as to what doesn’t work.

Don’t use any form of medication

It is very surprising that some people have come with the idea that some form of meditation like hypnosis can help us quit the use of cigarettes. This idea is very wrong. Meditation won’t help us to quit. Quite a number of people have claimed that it worked for them but it is still not the best option to use.

If we consider the percentage of smokers who have managed to succeed using meditation techniques we will find that it is not worth it. Research shows that only about 10% of people who use meditation (particularly hypnosis) end up finally quitting. Whereas, we have techniques where about 96% of those who use it end up smoking and never go back to it again.

Forget about the idea of e-cigarettes

Some people are really desperate to quit. In their desperation, they go ahead to use the idea of e-cigarettes. Believe me, using this idea is going over the board, big time. The whole idea is having some kind of fancy electronic cigarette within reach so that even if we put them in the mouth to smoke, we won’t be taking in nicotine into the body. Actually the cigarette does not contain anything in it. It is just something that is fancy. This does not really solve the main problem. Does it?

Nicotine replacement therapy won’t work

Most of us have gotten discouraged by the kind of results that we get from the use of nicotine replacement therapy products. Many have conceived this therapy as a way to easily quit smoking cigarettes. But it is not. What we need to realize is that we are not addicted to smoking because we crave nicotine. We crave the cigarettes and not the nicotine. That is simple the reason why this therapy is associated with a poor success rate.

The blank stare and vibrant glow is all too familiar. In the theater, restaurant, bar, wherever-You can count on people using their smartphones way beyond the “I really need to take this call” excuse. It’s become a part of the atmosphere. Now, people walk the streets with their head down looking at their device, oblivious of their surroundings. While smartphones have made life easier for many of us, our love of them is becoming more like an addiction worthy of support groups and crisis hotlines.

There are all kinds of addictions, and like most, people will deny having one, especially to their smartphone. So here’s your chance to be a junior scientist. The next time you’re out somewhere, scan the crowd. You’ll probably notice the majority of people are on their phone as if major breaking news-Aliens have landed, earth has achieved world peace, the Kardashians have actually done something to merit fame-is occurring and their device is the only place it’s being announced. Nope, they’re just texting, Facebooking, gaming. In an April 2012 study by AV-Comparatives, it was found that 70% of smartphone users never turn their devices off-Meaning they stay connected 24/7.

These days it seems people attend functions only so they can check in at the location, tweet about it and not be left out of any Facebook photos. Honestly, how many times have you taken a picture and instantly thought it would make a great profile picture? Some people even pretend to be using or talking on their device to avoid eye contact or other social interactions.

Now close your eyes and pretend your smarphone was lost, stolen or a baby flushed it down the toilet-I don’t know. Regardless, it’s gone, gone, gone like Pauly Shore’s career. Do you feel your heart racing? Awful feeling, isn’t it? Even if you accidentally leave your device somewhere you know is safe, like your car, that doesn’t make it feel any less traumatic. You still search your pockets and have a mini freak-out before remembering where it is. Consider this separation anxiety mixed with addiction.

It’s tough to say smartphones are more addictive than cigarettes, mainly because there is no true biological dependence on the device as there is with nicotine, but it certainly can become habit forming. Whether it’s shopping, overeating or gambling, not all addictions are substance-related. The rising global smartphone addiction has even gotten to the point that many countries have implemented harsh laws against using them while driving and launched ad campaigns warning of the risks.

These days, people go out to restaurants and set their phone next to their plate, as if it were another guest at the table. Put it in my pocket or purse, you say? Ha! That’s about as likely as me erasing my high score for Angry Birds. The reliance can be startling as more and more people ditch their cameras, iPods, and paper maps in favor of the all-powerful, electronic “Swiss Army Knife.”

If you think people aren’t as dependent on these little devices as many are to cigarettes, think again. According to J.D. Power and Associates, the average smartphone user spends about $107 each month for wireless access-More than the average household pays for electricity each month.

According to another recent report from British mobile phone provider 02 UK, smartphone owners spend an average of two hours per day using their device and the majority of this time, nearly 25 minutes, is spent browsing the internet. Surprisingly, making calls and sending text messages accounted for just 12.13 and 10.2 minutes respectively. The report also found that 54 percent of smartphone owners use their device in place of an alarm clock, 46 percent use it in place of a watch and 39 percent use their phone in place of a separate camera.

Now don’t get me wrong, smartphones are without a doubt one of the best pieces of technology developed over the last few years. I love them, work with them and sing their praises. They can do almost anything, which makes it all the more difficult to break away. We just need to realize when the line that separates “help” from “hinder” is nearing.

As the saying goes, moderation is key to maintaining a healthy life and relationships. Smartphones can help you make connections and interact with people, but it is just an aid. Be sure you use the device at the right times to strengthen your life, not impede it.

Don’t think you can put your smartphone down for a little bit? Test you and your friends with this fun game called “Phone Stacking,” created by Brian Perez.

Here are the rules:

1) At the beginning of the meal, everyone puts their phone face down at the center of the table.

2) During the meal, you’ll hear calls, texts and emails arrive, but you can’t pick up your phone.

3) The first person to give in and flip their phone over loses the game and has to buy everyone dinner.

4) If no one checks their phone by the time the bill arrives, everyone buys their own meal.